PENHALIGON’S: THE HALFETI ROSE

TRADE ROUTES: A FRAGRANT ADVENTURE

ADA and Penhaligon’s have a long-standing partnership spanning more than 15 years. Innovative fragrance house Penhaligon’s have a variety of inspirations for their wonderful perfume creations, and the fragrances that make up the Trade Routes collection launched in 2014, tell an adventurous story.

Penhaligon’s Trade Routes collection is infused by the vast array of exotic ingredients that arrived into the London docks at the end of the 19th century. This rich fragrance collection offers a journey to magical, distant lands, and a chance to travel the world with fragrance.

Be transported by the breeze of time, to an era of exploration and daring adventure. Wander around the docks and ports of London in the Victorian era, and first notice the hubbub; a rowdy mass of porters, carters, clerks, children and lingering ladies all negotiating, hauling, unpacking, lifting, loading, arguing and laughing. Then start to perceive the aromas that changed with each arriving ship: rare treasures from inky indigo to dusty coal, heady wines to smoky tea, spices, leather and coffee. Known as the Warehouse of the World, the docks were dense with the opulent and the fantastical and the air overhead was filled with a fragrant pot pourri.

As part of our fragrant adventure we next visit the Turkish town of Halfeti, which is a wonderful mix of Byzantine, Armenian, Egyptian and Ottoman heritage and a town well versed to trading with the world. The Levant Company was set up to create a relationship with the Ottoman empire, bringing exotic goods to English society. From spices to soft leathers, this trading company had control of the most desirable commodities of this region. The relationship grew, the Ottoman empire was intoxicating and by the 19th Century, London’s aristocracy was in awe of this fading power.

THE BLACK ROSE

Of all the commodities traded in and around the town of Halfeti, the most unusual was their black rose, the rarest of flowers, which originates from the nearby banks of the Euphrates. These roses bloom once a year and it is the combination of its terroir and the pH of the river that creates a rose of the darkest shade of red. The red colour develops into a soft black in the hot suns of the summer, and this black rose was most covetable especially to the gothic Victorians.

The oil extracted from the rose petals forms the mid note of Penhaligon’s Halfeti fragrance, and is used to dramatic and mysterious effect. The best-selling fragrance developed by perfumer Christian de Provenzano fills the air once more with the rarest of treasures transported to the London docks at this time.

The Halfeti fragrance is a potion so delightfully intoxicating one falls immediately in love. Warm, strong and reassuring all at once. The beginning of this story is fresh and vigorous; bergamot, hints of green, and aromatic Artemisia. It evolves with gusto thanks to jasmine and spiced rose – this love has thorns. The ending bears all the promise of distant lands, with the certainty of vanilla and sandalwood, the piquancy of leather and a most reassuringly distinguished mélange of Oud, amber and patchouli.

HALFETI GUEST COLLECTION

ADA International and Penhaligon’s have partnered once again to ensure the continuation of the Halfeti fragrant adventure! The indulgent Halfeti hotel guest collection is now available globally, and allows Hoteliers to offer their guests a luxurious bathing experience. The range joins and complements the existing, iconic Penhaligon’s guest ranges of Quercus and Blenheim Bouquet, as well as the bespoke Savoy Steam collection, created for The Savoy Hotel, London.

Take a closer look at the Halfeti guest collection here: 
www.ada-international.com/penhaligons